Community Cohousing

New Beginnings

Performance ‘New Ground’

“How to interpret 18 years of struggle to establish a new form of collaborative living for older women?

Could it be put into words, sounds ?

An impossible task maybe.?

Yet the members of OWCH attacked this challenge with both apprehension and open minds, the challenge put to them in July by Luke Crookes, professional bassoonist and musical workshop experimenter.

Having first entertained us with his virtuosic, humorous display of the myriad sounds and styles the bassoon can create. we experimented with a soundscape illustrating our journey from its beginnings, fears, anticipation, through to inhabiting our beautiful new home.

We let go inhibition, nervous expectations to whooping it up at ultimate success, together with the highs and lows of the arduous journey, with practical impatient foot tamping to expressive welcoming arms, using our voices and hands to enhance the unique journey.

The mystery of interpretation of OWCH’s journey became a joyous recollection which was a quite different way of owning the feelings in which we normally express ourselves.”

Shirley Meredeen

This is my free improvisation. It will become a bassoon piece I will perform at the start of the workshop. It is my response to the words:

Beginnings – new.

Communication – building.

Loss – constant – new.

It’s going well.

In the workshop we will start with the words and see where our responses take us.

Developing sound palette

Experimenting

Playing with vocal beginnings & breath

Here is a 12 minute film I did today 12th July. It is the creative seeds. I want you to be able to see how my responses and possibilities are emerging for the workshop. I will leave lots of space for your creativity. If you have any responses: